Before Geely picked up controlling interest in the sports car maker late last year, the company assured enthusiasts that a new Elise was still in the works, likely a refresh of the current design -- but the influx of investment from cash-rich Geely might shift plans, with the Chinese company hinting at the possibility of a clean-sheet approach.

Geely has already done a creditable job of turning around the fortunes at Volvo, which it also owns, while also burnishing the brand that has long relied on its safety cred by adding a heaping helping of style and tech. The transformation at Volvo at the hands of Geely bodes well for whatever fate awaits Lotus.

In other words, 66 years on since Colin Chapman founded the sports car company -- and putting his mantra of “adding lightness” at the heart of its automotive mission -- Lotus looks to have a chance at joining the ranks of mainstream sports car makers like Porsche and Ferrari. As it stands, Lotus hasn’t released a new car in a decade -- and the Elise is essentially unchanged since it rolled out in 1996

Here we take a moment to look back at our first time behind the wheel of the Elise, a prototype we were told then “was not designed for the U.S. market, nor are there any plans to import it,” largely due to its use of a non-emissions certified Rover engine. Thankfully for American enthusiasts, Lotus eventually turned to a Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter for power, and we got our first taste on these shores of the intoxicating little sports car.